SFPD: Park Station

Came here to get a fix it ticket signed — I was in and out in about five minutes. They were really friendly and helpful!

My expectations of police stations aren’t terribly high. I don’t generally trust police, although that’s more of a philosophical thing than an in-​my-​gut thing. See, when I grew up, police officers were around to help you. They taught you about drugs, and it was the ‘80s, so everyone was scared about their kids getting kidnapped, so we were always taught if you were lost to find a police officer. Not just an adult, but a police officer.
But I’m also white and in my thirties.
My personal experience with the Park Station is filling out an investigation form because some scumbag skimmed by debit-​card info from a janky ATM and cloned my card. This same scumbag went on to make thousands of dollars of purchases – which came directly out of my bank account, because it was a debit card, not a credit card – at different stores in San Francisco and San Carlos. Thankfully, I put a stop to it, but I think my credit union took the loss, and that’s horrible. Why are people able to make ridiculous charges at stores without there being a way to track them down?
The answer isn’t simple, but it boils down to two things. First, the stores don’t care. They’re getting their money either way (it’s not like a credit-​card charge back), so why should they go through the trouble of reviewing security camera footage or making sure their employees always check signatures and/​or IDs? Second, the police don’t really care.
OK, I guess they do care, but I filled out a form and was given a number to call in a week to follow up on my case. Well, I got my money back from my credit union, so I didn’t really need to follow up, but the financial-​crimes division or whatever it’s called never followed up with me, and that’s too bad. So the original scumbags are just skimming other people’s cards and continuing to get away with it.
But Park Station. The officer who took my information was all right. He wasn’t mean, but he wasn’t very nice either. There was a little too much inappropriate chatter in the office as well. I don’t expect cops to be angels, but if your office is within earshot of the front desk, you should keep the conversation appropriate. It’s also ridiculously confusing to get to. Aren’t police stations supposed to be approachable, both in terms of design and geographically? It feels like you’re sneaking in to a county lot somewhere. I like the logs and the farmers market and the skateboarders, but I also feel like the drug dealers near Hippie Hill know they don’t have to worry about the Park Station cops; they’re too busy – wait, what are they too busy doing? Definitely not following up on actual crimes like fraud.

I live in the hood here and have to call in a lot of break ins of cars and homes on my block that have gotten bad in the last couple of years. The police from this department have a lot on there plate from the fake homeless kids that infest the park. I think the longest we have ever had to wait is two minutes response time when calling. I can’t ask for more than that. Good job park station. I think the biggest problem we have in this area is the lack of understanding that the police can only do so much. We all think C.S.I is real and that our petty problems are most important. As a community we need to stop being indifferent just because we are busy. Call them when you see crime even when it’s not your stuff as in being neighborly. Thanks again park station

«Ess Eff Pee Dee, why you gotta beat on me!» was the chant I saw a big crowd of vomit encrusted hippies doing down Haight Street a couple years ago. Apparently some officer lost his shit and beat the crap out of one of those dirtbags. Can you really blame him?
These guys do a great job, and they are the best police force I have personally ever encountered. I used to have to put up with the cops in San Hoser, the land of cops who are very bored and have nothing to do other than stop every teenager they see on the chance that they might be doing trouble. The city cops aren’t bored, so they won’t bother you if you’re a normal person who is not pooping on the sidewalk. Basically, they only come in contact with you if you need their help, and I think that’s just grand.
Now that Sit/​Lie has passed, these guys will have their work cut out for them here at the Park Station. I wish them the best and would like to send a general «thank you» for all the good service that they are doing for the neighborhood. And if you’re walking down Haight and you see a cop, give him or her a smile and a tip of your hat, because it is they who are keeping the poo and vomit smeared hippie punks from passing out in your doorway.

Seriously they need to figure it out! Do something more productive with their traffic division than to waste tax payer dollars on ticketing parked cars for no front lic plates! Seriously! Does it create a hazard on the road? NO! Is $ 103 ticket warranted? NO! C’mon if you need money, give out what other cities give $ 30 max! Stop wasting my time and tax dollars go catch those who continue to drive while on their cellphones or texting while driving or someone who has a expired meter. What a joke!

This station rocks! Way better than all the other district stations… only gripe is the parking lot, or lack thereof.

You gotta love the service the police provide to us day in, day out. Often overlooked and not appreciated, much props to those who wear the uniform. Thanks!

I wasn’t planning to file a report when my car was recently broken into because all the thieves got was about $ 4 in change, and I really didn’t feel a need for vengeance. Insert previous experience of my more naïve self, related to SFPD, but not necessarily this station:
(The last time I filed a police report was in 2002 when my car was stolen. I was told, more or less, yeah, good luck with that. Sensing that no real effort was going to be expended looking for my vehicle, I drove around (in a friend’s car,) and found it myself in a sketchy neighborhood within 45 minutes of looking. I then called the police, who told me to wait there, watching my car, which had clearly been completely stripped. I waited 2 ½ hours, still in sketchy ‘hood, withstanding serious stare-​downs and the same group of men circling the block and watching me, before I finally saw a squad car, flagged it down and got some help. Needless to say, I didn’t have very high expectations for something so minor as a car break-​in.)
Unfortunately, on this recent break-​in, they managed to screw up my electrical lock system on my old (’92) Accord, and for insurance to cover it, I needed to file a police report. After trying to do it online, I received a message that I had to go into a station because I had «evidence.» (For some odd reason, the dudes/​dudettes left a Nordstrom bag on my passenger seat with a nice, big Mag-​light inside.)
So, I dutifully went to the station, parking a few blocks away, because this location is on a weird island surrounded by a dead-​end and streets with no parking. The Mission-​style building is gorgeous from the outside, blending in well with nearby Golden Gate park. Inside, it’s kind of creepy. You walk into bullet-​proof glass to the left, dimly lit from behind, & 2 locked doors with keypads on the outside. For company, I had a dingy vending machine and heart-​breaking missing people photos all over the walls.
I was not invited further than the waiting area. Instead, I was asked to fill out a form (expected), then asked if I wanted to keep the flashlight (unexpected). Stammering, I said, «I guess so, uh, unless you need it for your ‘evidence’ or fingerprints or something.» The officer laughed, «Ha ha, we have plenty of flashlights here,» then he actually grabbed the flashlight (smudging the fingerprints?) & clicked it on. Um, wtf did I have to come all the way here for then?
It’s fine, cause like I said, I wasn’t seeking vengeance, just, why make me come all the way down there with the bag, & then tell me to keep it?
Still, they do get 3 stars from me because the officer was friendly (even if possibly not the best detective), the building is gorgeous, and the original guy I talked to when I first called was very clear and informative.
Plus, $ 4 for one of those big Mag-​lights is a *steal*!